Peterboorugh United continued their astonishing run of form with an emphatic 4-0 win at Scunthorpe United.
Conor Washington completed a stunning hat-trick as Peterborough United romped to a fifth successive victory with an astonishing 4-0 away win at Glanford Park against a shell shocked Scunthorpe United side.It was Washington's first professional hat-trick and the 50th by a Peterborough United player in the club's Football League history and it was thoroughly deserved for a player that has taken a fair amount of stick by the club's supporters since his arrival.
Washington's treble, which included a stunner from the edge of the box, moved Posh into the play-off positions and cameo appearances from Marcus Maddison and Martin Samuelsen suggested there is plenty of strength waiting in the wings.
One-time Posh loanee Luke Williams tested goalkeeper Ben Alnwick with a low effort from 20-yards as the hosts worked a short free-kick routine in the opening exchanges.
Alnwick was called upon moments later to deny Williams after he found some space, but again it was fairly routine for the Posh goalkeeper.
On three minutes, the deadlock was broken as a routine centre by Michael Smith was inexplicably missed by goalkeeper Daniels and WASHINGTON nodded the ball into the empty net. A brave header by the striker, but Daniels definitely at fault.
Posh came close to a second on the quarter hour as Daniels could only parry Taylor's effort, but Smith fired the rebound from 12-yards over the crossbar.
There were chances at either end on 20 minutes with Oztumer's shot blocked before Henderson headed wide of the near post at the other end after a fine ball into the box by striker partner Madden.
Washington fired straight at Daniels from 25-yards after a sharp turn on the edge of the box after good work in the build-up from Taylor.
Harry Beautyman came close to arguably the goal of the season on 37 minutes as let fly with a dipping left-foot volley from 25-yards, but Daniels, at fault for the first goal, made a decent stop to claw the ball around the post.
Paddy Madden tested Alnwick twice within three minutes as the first half drew to a close, but both efforts were straight at goalkeeper Alnwick.
On the stroke of half-time, Posh were denied a second by another fine stop by Daniels, this time denying Beautyman from the edge of the box after great work from Oztumer in a tight area.
Scunthorpe replaced former Posh winger Tommy Rowe at the break with Gary McSheffery introduced.
Moments after the re-start, Posh were 2-0 ahead. Oztumer was kicked in the box by Henderson and BOSTWICK stepped up and rifled home the spot-kick straight down the middle.
McSheffery sliced wide of the near post on 53 minutes after he found some space in the channel.
A stinging Taylor effort from 30-yards was well gathered by Daniels on 57 minutes after good approach play. Posh were forced into a change on 63 minutes with Harry Beautyman limping off to be replaced by Marcus Maddison.
Posh handed a first appearance in a Posh shirt to Martin Samuelsen on 65 minutes as Angol made way.
Andrew Fox replaced Oztumer in the final Posh change of the game on 75 minutes. Samuelsen demonstrated his fine ability with a superb run and timed pass for Maddison on 80 minutes, but his fellow substitute clipped the outside of the post with his effort.
Posh made it 3-0 on 81 minutes and what a stunner it was. WASHINGTON collected a long through ball, beat his man and curled a superb shot past Daniels and into the corner.
It was 4-0 to a rampant Posh side as the game moved into stoppage time and a personal landmark for WASHINGTON who completed his hat-trick with a simple one on one finish after a glorious Samuelsen pass.
Scunthorpe: Daniels, Laird, Canavan, Williams, Madden, Henderson (sub Van Veen 77min), Bishop, King, Rowe (sub McSheffery 46min), Goode (sub McAllister 76min), Clarke. Unused subs: Anyon, Wiseman,Adelakunm, Boyce.
Posh: Alnwick, Smith, Elder, Almeida Santos, Bostwick, Forrester, Oztumer (sub Fox 75min), Beautyman (sub Maddison 70min), Taylor, Washington, Angol (sub Samuelsen 72min). Unused subs: Henry, Addison, Baldwin, Coulibaly.
Half-time: Scunthorpe United 0-1 Peterborough United
Full-time: Scunthorpe United 0-4 Peterborough United
Attendance: 3,790